2 4 THE SCOTTISH TERRIER, 



of Scotland," Whinstone), that functionary still exists in 

 different parts of the Highlands. 



The following graphic description of the tod-hunter and 

 his gang, with their modus operandi, was given by a corres- 

 pondent in a letter to the " Fanciers' Gazette " : 



" In many districts of Elgin, Aberdeen, and Nairn, foxes were a 

 great scourge. Lambs, sheep, and poultry, were frequently taken by 

 them in open day, and I have known as many as twenty lambs slaugh- 

 tered in one night. I can remember being in a certain church, where, 

 after sermon and before the blessing was pronounced, the precenter. — 

 /. c, the leader of the singing (Lord love you ' such singing then in the 

 auld kirk), — rose up and exclaimed: ' N oo, lads, min', we're gaun tae 

 hunt the tod on Tiesday ; be a' up at tae laird's house in guid time^ and 

 Johnie Eraser's comin' wi' a' his doogs.' This last was quite a character 

 in his way. He hailed from Glenlivet, and well I mind on ould Johnie's 

 dogs. He had a few hounds, — large, heavy-headed animals, much 

 resembling in appearance the description given of the Irish wolf-hound ; 

 they were not so fast as the present race of fox-hounds, but could stick 

 to a scent a great deal better, — no losing, once on it, and the deep bay- 

 ing they made, when following, was enough to frighten 'Auld Hoofy ' 

 himself. In addition to these great dogs, Johnie had a few small Skyes, 

 perfect devils to work, and which always kept as near to the hounds as 

 possible. Several tods would frequently escape from the coverts and 

 take to the hill cairns, in spite of the old. Queen Anne muskets of the 

 farmers. On went the hounds, followed by old Johnie and his little 

 varmints, and gunners and beaters, till they came to where the tod had 

 taken refuge, frequently in some huge cairn, perhaps a quarter of a mile 

 in circumference. The big dogs and Queen Annes surrounded the 

 cairn, an outer line was composed of the beaters, while old Johnie 

 advanced on to the boulders, and at the words, * Hie in, my darlin's 1 ' 

 off they were, just like so many ferrets in a rabbit-warren, and the fox 

 had either to come out and face death in a gentlemanly sort of way, or 

 be killed l:)y these game little dogs." 



